A club statement at that time read: “Sporting director Bruno Hubener is in close contact with Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. The final decision in the Bendtner case is to be made within the next two days.”

And then, speaking to kicker magazine on Thursday, Bruchhagen said: “Having carefully weighed all arguments, the signing of Bendtner has emerged as unrealistic.”

Bendtner could have joined Frankfurt in a €3 million transfer, with a reported €3 million annual salary, the magazine said. It also said the striker, who spent last season on loan at Juventus, had asked for a €5 million release clause, to be triggered as early as next summer.

Frankfurt have now set their sights on Sparta Prague striker Vaclav Kadlec, 21, but the Czech Republic club do not want to sell him.